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Volatus Aerospace Corp. Announces Prospectus Offering and Provides Q2 2022 Revenue Guidance of $6.5M

Volatus Aerospace Corp.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S. NEWSWIRE OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES Volatus Aerospace Corp. (TSXV: VOL) (OTCQB: VLTTF) (“ Volatus ” or the “ Company ”) is pleased to announce that it has filed a preliminary short form prospectus (the “ Prospectus ”) in connection with a proposed marketed public offering (the “ Offering ”) of 11,111,200 units of the Company (the “ Units ”) at a price of $0.36 per Unit (the “ Offering Price ”) for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to $4,000,032, subject to an over-allotment option as described below. Additionally, the Company wishes to provide preliminary unaudited revenue results for the quarter ending June 30, 2022 (“ Q2 2022 ”). The Offering is being led by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., as lead agent and sole bookrunner, and a syndicate of agents, including Integral Wealth Securities Limited collectively, the “ Agents ”) to sell, by way of a marketed short form prospectus offering on a commercially reasonable best efforts agency basis, 11,111,200 Units. Financing Details The Company has filed and obtained a receipt for the Prospectus in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario (together, the “ Offering Jurisdictions ”). Each Unit of will consist of one common share (a “ Common Share ”) and one common share purchase warrant (each, a “ Warrant ”). Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at an exercise price of $0.50 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing of the Offering. The Agents will have an option (the " Over-Allotment Option ") to offer for sale up to an additional 15% of the Units sold pursuant to the Offering on the same terms as the Offering for market stabilization purposes and to cover over-allotments. The Over-Allotment Option is exercisable in whole or in part within 30 days of the date of closing of the Offering. The Over-Allotment Option may be in the form of Units only, Common Shares only, Warrants only, or any combination thereof. The Offering is being conducted on a commercially reasonable best efforts agency basis and is subject to customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the entering into of an agency agreement with the Agents and the approval of the securities regulatory authorities and the TSX Venture Exchange (the “ TSXV ”). In addition, the Company is undertaking, concurrent with the Offering, a non-brokered private placement of up to 1,388,900 Units at the Offering Price for gross proceeds of up to $500,004 (the “ Concurrent Private Placement ”). The securities issuable under the Concurrent Private Placement will be subject to resale restrictions, including a Canadian four-month hold period. The closing of the Offering is not conditional upon the closing of the Concurrent Private Placement. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for inventory, factory operations, warehouse improvements, equipment for services and training, technology development, acquisitions, working capital and general corporate purposes, as more particularly set out in the Prospectus. The Agent shall receive compensation comprised of cash equal to 8% of the gross proceeds and compensation warrants of the Company to purchase such number of common shares as is equal to 8% of the Units sold in the Offering (subject to a reduction, in each case, to 3% for Units sold to purchasers on a President’s List up to $500,000) upon closing of the Offering. The Offering is expected to close on or about August 16, 2022, or such other date as the Company and the Agent may agree. The Prospectus containing important information relating to the Offering has been filed with the securities commissions or similar authorities in the Offering Jurisdictions and is available under the Company’s profile at www.sedar.com. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy Units until a receipt for a final prospectus has been issued. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ U.S. Securities Act ”) or any applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. “United States” and “U.S. persons” shall have the meanings assigned to them in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act. Corporate Update on Q2 Revenue Guidance The Company wishes to provide guidance that it expects to report revenues of approximately $6.5M for Q2 2022, representing an increase of approximately 92% compared to the Company’s reported revenue of $3.4M for the three months ended June 30, 2021 (" Q2 2021 ") and an increase of approximately 36% compared to the Company’s revenue of $4.8M for the three months ended March 31, 2022 (“ Q1 2022 ”). The Company also expects to report annual revenues of approximately $38M for the financial year ended December 31, 2022, representing an increase of approximately 138% compared to the Company’s reported revenue for the year ended December 31, 2021. The expected revenue increase is based on management's assumptions of the Company’s organic growth with new customer additions, geographic expansion in the United Kingdom and USA, and higher services and training revenue. The expected total operating costs for 2022 are in line with management’s expectations of $11.70M. Factors contributing to the expected increase in revenue include revenue from the Company’s integrated solutions segment, product diversification providing higher margins, and revenue from services and training. The Company’s drone services and training segment has experienced seasonality in the first two quarters of the 2022 fiscal year, and the Company expects the third quarter to be stronger in these segments. There can be no assurance that the Company will achieve similar revenue or margins in any subsequent quarter or annual period. Actual revenue for Q2 2022 and fiscal year 2022 may be materially different than as indicated. See the section entitled “ Risk Factors ” in the Prospectus. About Volatus Aerospace: Volatus Aerospace Corp. is a leading provider of integrated drone solutions throughout Canada, the United States, Latin America and most recently in Europe. Operating a vast pilot network, Volatus serves commercial and defense markets with imaging and inspection, security and surveillance, equipment sales and support, training, and design, manufacturing, and R&D. Through its subsidiary Volatus Aviation, Volatus carries on the business of aircraft management, charter sales, and cargo services using piloted, remotely piloted, and autonomous aircraft. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Notes This news release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs, and current expectations of the Company with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or “believes” or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” (or other variations of the foregoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information includes information regarding: (i) the business plans and expectations of the Company; and (ii) expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial, and economic data and operating plans, strategies, or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to the Company, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management’s current expectations or beliefs. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflects expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current beliefs and is based on information currently available to it and on assumptions it believes to be not unreasonable in light of all of the circumstances. In some instances, material factors or assumptions are discussed in this news release in connection with statements containing forward-looking information. Such material factors and assumptions include, but are not limited to: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company; the completion of the Offering; meeting the continued listing requirements of the TSXV; and anticipated and unanticipated costs and other factors referenced in this news release and the Prospectus, including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Prospectus under the section “Risk Factors”. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date of this news release and, other than as required by law, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. This news release contains future-oriented financial information and financial outlook information within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, “ FOFI ”) about the Company’s expected revenue and margins, all of which are subject to the same assumptions, risk factors, limitations, and qualifications as set out in the above paragraphs and set forth in the Prospectus under the section entitled “Risk Factors”. The actual financial results of the Company may vary from the amounts set out therein and such variation may be material. The Company and its management believe that the FOFI has been prepared on a reasonable basis, reflecting management’s best estimates and judgments. However, because this information is subjective and subject to numerous risks, it should not be relied on as necessarily indicative of future results. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such FOFI. FOFI contained in this news release were made as of the date hereof and were provided for the purpose of providing further information about the Company’s anticipated future business operations. Readers are cautioned that the FOFI contained in this news release should not be used for purposes other than for which it was originally disclosed herein or therein. FOFI has been prepared by the Company’s management. MS Partners LLP, the Company’s independent auditor, has not performed any audit, review or compilation procedures with respect to the prospective information and accordingly does not provide any form of assurance with respect thereto for the purpose of the Offering. Source: Volatus Aerospace Corp. TSXV: VOL Contact Details Volatus Aerospace Corp. Kate McKenna +1 604-396-9282 kate.mckenna@volatusaerospace.com Company Website https://volatusaerospace.com

July 25, 2022 12:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Minuteman Press Million-Dollar Circle Member Michael Levy Grows Sales for Levittown and Farmingdale Franchises

Minuteman Press International Inc

Michael Levy owns Minuteman Press in Levittown, NY located at 3000 Hempstead Turnpike. In June 2021, he also purchased the original Minuteman Press franchise in Farmingdale, NY located at 324 Main St. Already a member of the Minuteman Press International President’s Million-Dollar Circle, Michael has continued his strong sales growth in the first two quarters of 2022, including record monthly gross sales in March 2022. Key Drivers of Growth When asked about the key drivers of his growth in 2022, Michael shares, “Some would say luck, I would say persistence, perseverance and simply being known to be someone who gets things done. While there have been many challenges due to supply chain issues for the past year or so, I was able to use that to my advantage.” Michael further explains how he has been able to manage and overcome supply chain issues, saying, “For example, I had a customer contact me for a job I had never done before but I had done other jobs for this customer. It was a huge job, for 150,000 each of two envelopes. Someone else, who normally does this job for them, was not able to get the stock. So, the customer called me and told me what happened and asked if I can help.” He continues, “I spent two days researching and I was able to get both items for them and deliver them when they needed. One of the suppliers was through one of the field reps at Minuteman Press International, so it was great I could leverage that connection with my franchisor. I ended up producing $25,000 worth of envelopes I had never done before, and they just recently asked me to quote their next order of 200,000 of each one.” Michael sees the wide variety of products offered by his two Minuteman Press franchises as another competitive advantage. He says, “It’s examples like that envelope order plus the other items we offer that most other printers do not, such as in-house screen printing, embroidery, dye sublimation, and stamp production, that allows us to stay busy and grow. Another key is to have enough customers ordering products that when one is slow, others are not. This is a key ingredient, especially with my larger clients.” Promoting the Return of Live Events on Long Island As more live events, concerts, ball games, and trade shows return to Long Island, Minuteman Press is well-positioned to pitch in and help promote them. Michael shares, “It is very nice to be getting orders for tickets, programs, journals, and most importantly, items for trade shows and community events. Promotional items and apparel have really picked up over the past 6 months and that is because these events are happening again. That certainly gets me excited to be able to offer such a wide range of products that cater to all of my customers.” As for what advice he would give to other Long Island business owners right now, Michael shares, “Of course, every business is different, but one thing all businesses must do is to market themselves. Marketing is a very wide-ranging word and can be done in many different forms. Simply wearing a logo polo shirt is marketing. In addition, advertising, mailings, flyers, business cards, promotional items, apparel, and anything you can put your company logo on are all forms of marketing.” He adds, “That is exactly where I, as the owner of two Minuteman Press franchises, come in and help. We can put your logo on just about anything that allows you to market your business. I always tell my customers when they ask, ‘What type of marketing should my business do?’, to try a little bit of everything and see what works best for your specific business.” To find your local Minuteman Press on Long Island, visit their brand new consumer website, https://minuteman.com. For Minuteman Press franchise opportunities on Long Island, visit https://minutemanpressfranchise.com. Contact Details Minuteman Press International Chris Biscuiti +1 631-249-1370 cbiscuiti@mpihq.com Company Website https://minutemanpressfranchise.com

July 25, 2022 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Shortage of Mental Health Professionals Gets Severe

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

At a time when we need them most, psychologists and other mental health professionals are harder to find—resulting in a severe shortage of behavior health providers in the U.S. Government agencies estimate half of those who need psychological services are not able to access them. “Many people who desperately need support are finding they have few options,” said Dr. Michele Nealon, Psy.D., President of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. “At a time when more people need mental health counseling, we have fewer professionals to meet the need.” According to Dr. Nealon, the widening gap means that someone who needs counseling may have to wait months to see a specialist. In Los Angeles County, a national search last year to fill 83 vacant mental health positions yielded only 13 candidates, reports the Public Health Department. A Harvard University study recently found just 17 percent of phone calls placed to get an appointment with a mental health counselor were successful. The shortage, which has existed for more than a decade, has grown worse since the pandemic prompted thousands of therapists to take early retirement or leave the field entirely. This shortage is now exacerbated by a global 25 percent increase in depression, trauma, and anxiety resulting from the pandemic, inflation, war, and mass violence, according to the World Health Organization. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration reports that we “need to add 10,000 providers to each of seven separate mental healthcare professions by 2025 to meet the expected growth in demand.” “At The Chicago School, we are training more than 6,000 professionals every year to fill the need, especially in underserved communities of color and in rural areas,” said Dr. Nealon. “There needs to be a greater investment in this country in mental health institutions and prospective counselors so that we create a continuous pipeline to these communities.” The training for a psychologist or counselor typically requires two to five years of post-bachelor’s degree studies, so there will take time for the supply of new therapists to catch up with demand. With growing acceptance of mental health services, the gap is even greater for culturally competent therapists who understand specific communities, such as LGBTQIA+ and ethnic/racial minorities. “Two out of three students at The Chicago School identify as people of color,” Dr. Nealon noted. “These are the professionals who are most critical to addressing our mental health crisis in the long run.” About The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Integrating theory with hands-on experience, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides education rooted in a commitment to innovation, service, and community for thousands of diverse students across the United States and globally. Founded in 1979, the nonprofit, regionally accredited university now features campuses in iconic locations across the country (Chicago, Southern California, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Dallas) and online. TCSPP continues to expand its educational offerings beyond the field of psychology to offer more than 30 degrees and certificates in the professional fields of health services, nursing, education, counseling, business, and more. Through its engaged professional model of education, commitment to diversity and inclusion, and an extensive network of international partner institutions, The Chicago School’s students receive real-world training opportunities that reflect their future careers. The Chicago School is a proud affiliate of TCS, a nonprofit system of colleges advancing student success and community impact. To learn more, visit www.thechicagoschool.edu. Contact Details The Chicago School of Professional Professional Psychology Vivien Hao +1 323-893-4743 vhao@thechicagoschool.edu

July 21, 2022 02:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time

Taking the Guesswork Out of Back to School Shopping:

YourUpdateTV

Believe it or not, back to school season is just around the corner. According to a recent survey conducted by Shipt, the same-day delivery company, nearly 50% of teachers as well as over one-third of parents and caregivers (37%) plan to begin their back to school shopping this month (July). Recently, Chief Business Officer Rina Hurst participated in a nationwide satellite media tour to discuss everything students, parents and teachers need to know before school is in session. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/PmN6Dm7gqiY Known for their personalized shopping experience, Shipt recently polled parents, caregivers, teachers and college students to uncover the top must-have school supplies for back to school shopping. Rooted in insights from the survey as well as proprietary data, Shipt created the Ultimate School Shopping Checklist, a shoppable list of school essentials to guide consumers what to buy, and how to save, this retail season. According to Shipt's Ultimate Shopping Guide, here are the top insights to know: · Write This One Down: While pens and pencils might seem like an obvious choice to be at the top of your list, more than half of parents say these are also the items that their kids run out of the quickest during the school year, so take advantage of back to school sales to stock up now. · No Back-to-Back Backpacks: More than 80% of parents plan to buy their kid a new backpack ahead of the school year – and what’s more, they happen to be a great way to incentivize your kids to get excited about back to school shopping because they can pick out a new backpack that fits their style so start by picking out a new backpack so shopping is fun for everyone! · Classroom SOS: For those looking to lend a helping hand, the top two items that teachers run out of the fastest in their classroom are pencils and dry erase markers. · Keepin’ It Cool: Whether you’re hosting, studying or late night-snacking, don’t forget to add a mini fridge to your dorm room must-haves this school year. Almost half of college students (44%) report that they plan to purchase a mini fridge this year. Along with a Shipt membership, this is a great way to ensure your college kids are eating healthy all semester long. To find out more information on Shipt and to download the Shipt app, visit www.shipt.com and follow Shipt on social on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. For visuals and media assets, download our press kit here. About Rina Hurst Rina Hurst is the Chief Business Officer at Shipt, leading the company’s Business Development, Partner Success and Digital Site Experience teams. In this role, Rina helps spark connections by delivering an easy-to-shop digital site, launching new and innovative partnerships, and building creative strategies alongside retailers and CPGs to continually meet their unique needs for success. Rina received her MBA from Georgetown University and her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech. About Shipt Shipt brings the store to your door. Through a community of Shipt Shoppers and a convenient app, Shipt provides personal shopping and delivery and is available to 80% of households in more than 5,000 U.S. cities. Shipt Shoppers go above and beyond, communicating in real time about preferences and substitutions. A curated marketplace of retailers, Shipt offers access to a variety of stores and product categories including fresh foods, household essentials, wellness products, office and pet supplies. Shipt is an independently operated, wholly owned subsidiary of Target Corp. Founded and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, Shipt also maintains an office in San Francisco. For more information, visit Shipt's Newsroom. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 19, 2022 03:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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Chef Tanvi Shah, author of Millennial Kitchen, combines good food and company to raise awareness of Akshaya Patra USA

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA

Over the course of two months, Chef Tanvi Shah and her daughter, Mira Shah, brought together communities in 5 US cities to raise awareness about healthy eating and Akshaya Patra’s midday meal program. Millennial Kitchen, a unique cookbook that provides delicious and nutritious recipes for the quintessential millennial, was published as part of their philanthropic initiative ‘Cook For Cause’, where 100% of book sales go towards Akshaya Patra’s midday meal program. The book includes a variety of recipes including vegan, Jain and gluten-free options. Tanvi Shah’s steadfast beliefs of excluding sugar and preparing clean & macro-balanced meals in the kitchen, combined with Mira Shah’s desire for satisfying, easy & delicious meals are reflected in their recipes. Gururaj ‘Desh’ Deshpande, a member of the Board of Directors, said “Akshaya Patra is so fortunate to have the support of Tanvi and her whole family. Not only did we get a copy of the book written by Tanvi and her daughter Mira but we also got to taste several dishes meticulously prepared by Tanvi.” Tanvi Shah, who hails from Mumbai, completed her Bachelors & Masters degrees in the US and worked at IBM for several years before moving back to India. In addition to her passion for food, she is now the creative head for a fabric accessory line that retails across India. Mira Shah is a student at St Andrews University in Scotland where she studies global sustainability. She is currently doing an internship at The Soho House in Mumbai, infusing sustainability in operational processes in the hospitality sector. About The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Established in 2000, The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world’s largest NGO school meal program, providing hot, nutritious school lunches to over 1.8 million children in over 20,000 schools through 63 kitchens in 14 states and 2 Union Territories in India. It costs only $20 to feed a child for an entire school year. In 2006, the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA was formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The foundation is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and supports the Akshaya Patra mission by raising funds and awareness in the United States. Contact Details Akshaya Patra Foundation USA +1 781-438-3090 contact@apusa.org Company Website https://www.akshayapatrausa.org/

July 19, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Tech CEO gives away free career coaching

Victor Cho

Victor Cho, a two-time internet CEO (and most recently the CEO at Evite.com) has released a powerful Career Acceleration Course that he is making available 100% free of charge at https://www.victorcho.com/course. This self-paced video course is filled with his top ten secrets for building a faster career trajectory and overcoming the obstacles, mindsets, and behaviors that prevent career growth. “I have always had a deep passion for bringing my teams to the next level in terms of how they operate, collaborate, and lead. The ten lessons I have put into this course are all must-have skills that every employee should master—from the front line to the C-Suite,” says Cho. “Anyone who masters even just one of these lessons will get some career lift, and anyone who masters them all will find themselves on a rocket-ship trajectory.” The ten lessons of the program delve into three critical career areas: 1) how to build your core capabilities; 2) how to deliver real impact; and 3) how to add positive energy into your organization. The specific lessons include: BUILDING YOUR CAPABILITIES: Attacking your job from the CEO's vantage point Building skills before you actually need them Proactive self-reviews and critiques DELIVERING REAL IMPACT: Mastering self-driven urgency Framing for impact and clarity, and then delivering it Mastering divergent thinking BECOMING ENERGY ACCRETIVE: Mastering inquiry vs. advocacy Driving change across multiple stakeholders Up, across, and down communication Building your extended network Courses like this typically run from hundreds to even thousands of dollars, but Cho is making this course available completely free. Those who partake in the course will simply be asked to donate (if they have the means) to one of several charities that he has identified that help underprivileged children in need, both in the U.S. and the Ukraine. “I have always wanted to put my coaching lessons into a more scalable form in order to help those who didn’t work in the companies I managed,” say Cho. “I really hope those who take and apply these lessons will find value in this coaching gift, and in exchange, will help those in need elsewhere in the world.” The course is available starting today at https://www.victorcho.com/course and any inquiries can be sent to course@victorcho.com. www.VictorCho.com is the official web presence for Victor Cho. A passionate consumer advocate, Cho was most recently the CEO at Evite where he helped lead the company back from the brink of COVID19 extinction and returned it to growth and financial health via a successful corporate extraction. Before that Cho was the CEO during a multi-year turnaround effort at Kodak Gallery (formerly ofoto.com) and he served as the Vice President and leader of Intuit’s $1billion+ web channel. He also spent seven years at Microsoft, where he launched some of the company's earliest Internet commerce and SaaS initiatives. Cho has received numerous awards for his work, including being named the Internet Person of the Year by the Internet Marketing Association and receiving an Italian Knighthood from the Royal House of Savoy for his philanthropic efforts--which have raised nearly $30M for charities and non-profits. Contact Details www.victorcho.com Media course@victorcho.com

July 19, 2022 08:05 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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AUW Offers Hundreds of Scholarships for Afghan Women; Donates Essential Medicines for Kabul Hospitals

Asian University for Women

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - Media OutReach - 18 July 2022 - Asian University for Women (AUW), based in Chittagong, Bangladesh, offered hundreds of new scholarships for Afghan women who are eligible and qualified for admission to AUW's undergraduate or graduate programs. During a four-day visit to Kabul, Kamal Ahmad, Founder of the Asian University for Women, met with Mr. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Acting Deputy Foreign Minister of Afghanistan and former head of the Taliban's political office in Doha, Qatar, and made the offer. He also handed over a gift of essential medicines for Kabul hospitals that was requested by the Afghan authorities. Deputy Foreign Minister Stanikzai welcomed the AUW initiative and committed his support for the proposal. Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister H.E. Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai presenting a gift of a plate of Lapis Lazuli to Kamal Ahmad for AUW as a token of his government's appreciation of AUW's support for Afghan women's education. Separately, Kamal Ahmad also held discussions with the Acting Minister of Higher Education; the Minister of Education; the Chancellor of Kabul University; and other senior government officials. He also called on the Ambassador of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) based in Kabul. In addition to the scholarships, AUW has proposed to initiate a pilot online secondary school education program through which Afghan students studying at the AUW Graduate School of Education would run online classes following the Afghan national curriculum. A new MOU is being prepared in this regard to be entered into between AUW and the Afghan Ministry of Education. This pilot project would provide an opportunity for AUW Afghan Masters students to gain teaching experience while also enabling young girls to continue their education at home while the Afghan government determines its approach to girls' and women's education. The Afghan Acting Minister of Education invited AUW to make a formal proposal in this regard and noted that his Ministry will be soon initiating a Directorate of Online Education. It may be noted that AUW has been deeply engaged in education of Afghan girls and women from its inception. Currently, about 170 Afghan women attend AUW on full scholarship. About Asian University for Women (AUW): Founded in 2008 and located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, AUW is the first of its kind: a regional institution dedicated to women’s education and leadership development through liberal arts and sciences education. It is international in outlook but rooted in the contexts and aspirations of the people of Asia. Chartered by the Parliament of Bangladesh, AUW exists solely to support a rising network of women leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers from across the region. It seeks out women who show significant academic achievement and potential, demonstrate courage and a sense of outrage at injustice, and are empathic to the woes of other people. 1160 students from 17 countries currently attend AUW: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Timor Leste, Vietnam, and Yemen. More than 85% of AUW students are on full or near-full scholarships funded by supporters from around the world. The University has graduated over a thousand students to date. A majority of AUW graduates secure employment in the private and public sectors in their home countries while about 25% go on to pursue graduate studies at other institutions of higher learning including Oxford, Cambridge, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Brandeis and Tufts, among others. To learn more about Asian University for Women, please visit https://asian-university.org. Contact Details Asian University for Women (AUW) Tapu Chowdhury +880 1926-673054 tapu.barua@auw.edu.bd

July 18, 2022 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Global Leaders Decry the Trivialization and Hijacking of the ‘Apartheid’ Label to Attack the Jewish State

Combat Hate Foundation

Leaders from around the world spoke out last week against appropriation of the term “apartheid” from its historical South African context with the goal of defaming and isolating Israel by portraying it as a racist entity. At a conference co-hosted by the Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM), NGO Monitor, and the World Zionist Organization titled “ Trivializing History: How Anti-Israel Activists Have Hijacked the South African ‘Apartheid’ Label to Attack the Jewish State,” world leaders, diplomats, legislators, and policymakers discussed what must be done to restore the “apartheid” term to its proper context and delegitimize its use in discourse about a conflict to which it has no relevance. “Categorizing Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state is just plain antisemitic,” said Vice President of the European Parliament and Special Envoy on Combating Religious Discrimination Including Antisemitism Nicola Beer. “In my opinion, such characterization counters progress made in the region concerning the peace process, instead it deepens the rifts and fuels antisemitism around the world.” The conference was held in response to the global rise in antisemitism. The “apartheid” campaign questions Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state by framing Israel as an inherently racist state. During the past 18 months, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International published reports accusing Israel of “apartheid,” and the UN established two bodies where the claim of apartheid will be prominently featured. These attempts distort history of what happened during South Africa’s past system of institutionalized racial segregation. Continuous misuse of the “apartheid” conversation trivializes the suffering endured by true apartheid victims of the oppressive apartheid regime. “The suffering of South Africans under Apartheid was unique and attempts to apply the same label to Israel trivialize that history and are unacceptable,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic Jiří Kozák. “We consider this open antisemitism. By claiming that Israel is a racist endeavor is in violation of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. Claims of ‘apartheid’ is not about questioning a particular policy, but about challenging the nature of the Jewish state.” “Whatever the world’s greatest and most unforgiveable crime is in any particular moment of history, the Jews will be accused of it,” said Member of the UK House of Lords Baroness Ruth Deech. “Those who accuse Israel of ‘apartheid’ are themselves racist in that their real mission is to deny the legitimacy of the only Jewish state in the world and if they got their way they would return Jews to dispersion, slaughter, and discrimination.” “Attempts to link South Africa’s past system of institutionalized racial segregation to the nuanced complexity of contemporary Israel-Palestinian relations debase history and trivialize the unique suffering of ‘apartheid’ victims,” U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar said. “We must acknowledge the dangerous effects of falsified name-calling.” “A lot of political prisoners during the Apartheid era would have loved to live as a Palestinian in Israel,” said Member of the European Parliament and Vice Chair of the Budgetary Committee Niclas Herbst. “Applying the ‘apartheid’ label serves no purpose other than to delegitimize the Israeli state, demonizing the Jewish people and ultimately bring about Israel’s destruction,” said Former Minister for Justice and Equality and Minister for Defense of the Republic of Ireland Alan Shatter. Alongside the conference, CAM released a public petition urging people to sign a pledge to “urge decision-makers at the international, national, and local levels to vocally reject and condemn the ‘apartheid’ libel of Israel.” NGO Monitor released a number of reports debunking the claims made by Amnesty International and other NGOs. Examples of such reports can be found here and here. These releases highlight their work fighting the “apartheid” libel. “We are combating the ‘apartheid’ calumny with a carefully orchestrated strategy and a dissemination of the truth and the facts,” Elan Carr, CAM Advisory Board Member and Former US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism, said. "The antisemitic ‘apartheid’ campaign will be defeated because it is built on lies and hate." NGO Monitor Vice President Olga Deutsch commented, “It is heartwarming to see how many officials rallied to denounce the ‘apartheid’ smear. Preserving the uniqueness of the ‘apartheid’ narrative is central for the South African people, but in the context of today’s event is also crucial for the global Jewish community facing violent antisemitic attacks. Strong message from our elected officials is imperative in setting the tone for the rest of us.” Watch a video of the full event here. The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) is a global coalition engaging more than 500 partner organizations and 1.7 million people from a diverse array of religious, political, and cultural backgrounds in the common mission of fighting the world’s oldest hatred. CAM acts collaboratively to build a better future, free of bigotry, for Jews and all humanity. Contact Details Ashley Perry info@combatantisemitism.org Company Website https://combatantisemitism.org/

July 12, 2022 08:12 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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India PM Modi Inaugurates Akshaya Patra's Kitchen at Varanasi

The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA

Los Angeles, CA (July 11, 2022 ) - Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, inaugurated the Akshaya Patra Foundation’s newest kitchen at the LT College in Varanasi, on Thursday, July 7, 2022. Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were in attendance at the ceremony. The event was presided by Madhu Pandit Dasa, Chairman and Chanchalapathi Dasa, Vice-Chairman of the Akshaya Patra Foundation. Sandeep Singhal, Co-Founder & MD of WestBridge Capital, India along with his team also visited the kitchen on the day of the inauguration. After the inauguration, the Prime Minister inspected the facility where meals were served to the children. The guests commended Akshaya Patra’s efforts to address hunger & malnutrition in the country and pledged their support for the organization’s endeavours. Expressing immense gratitude, Madhu Pandit Dasa, said “I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the honourable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi ji for taking time off from his busy schedule to inaugurate our new kitchen in Varanasi. I want to thank the honourable Governor, Smt. Anandiben Patel ji and honourable Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath ji for gracing this auspicious occasion. Today, we write yet another chapter in our association with the Government of Uttar Pradesh.” He added, “I also want to thank Mr. Sumir Chadha and Mr. Sandeep Singhal, co-Founders, West Bridge Capital & their team for sponsoring this kitchen and supporting our efforts to address classroom hunger. Such collaborative efforts by all the stakeholders will surely take us closer to our mission to ensure a world where children do not have to choose between education and food.” The construction of the state-of-the-art centralized kitchen was supported by WestBridge Capital, an India focussed investment firm managing over US$7 billion of capital. WestBridge Capital has, over the last two decades, identified and invested in multiple high-quality businesses across public and private markets and developed deep expertise and broad networks in Indian business markets. Apart from Akshaya Patra, WestBridge Capital has been engaged in making investments in varied philanthropic projects on an ongoing basis across education, health and environment thematics. The kitchen covers an area of 3 acres and marks Akshaya Patra’s 62nd kitchen which will serve 100,000 students in the district. Akshaya Patra has been an implementing partner of the Government of Uttar Pradesh for the school lunch program. About The Akshaya Patra Foundation USA Established in 2000, The Akshaya Patra Foundation is the world’s largest school meal program, providing hot, nutritious school lunches to over 1.8 million children in over 20,000 schools through 61 kitchens in 14 states and two Union Territories in India. It costs only $20 to feed a child for an entire school year. In 2006, the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The foundation is headquartered in Los Angeles, California and supports the Akshaya Patra mission by raising funds and awareness in the United States. For Further Information: Sagar Thumma, Director - Marketing; sagar@apusa.org About Akshaya Patra Established in 2000, Akshaya Patra is the world’s largest NGO school meal program, providing hot, nutritious school lunches to over 1.8 million children in around 20,000 schools through 61 kitchens in 14 states and two Union Territories in India. It costs only $20 to feed a child for an entire school year. Since the COVID-19 lockdown began on March 24th, Akshaya Patra has served more than 118 million meals to migrant workers and our beneficiaries and their families. Contact Details Akshaya Patra Foundation USA +1 781-438-3090 contact@apusa.org Company Website https://www.akshayapatrausa.org/

July 11, 2022 01:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time

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